Poor grammar and writing is an epidemic in the workplace. While the era of social media and texting has caused many to believe it’s a problem they couldn’t resolve, a number of businesses are finally finding the nerve to crack down. A recent HBR article by Kyle Wiens, I Won’t Hire People Who Use Poor Grammar,noted wryly that in his company, anyone who thinks an apostrophe was one of the 12 apostles or who tosses commas around with the abandon of a shotgun would be fortunate to find their way to the foyer before he shows them the door.

His article drew 3,013 comments (ironically, many of them taking him to task for ending a sentence with a preposition and referring to “company” in the plural, a convention that while common in American English is apparently still frowned upon overseas.) Which brings up another point – have you ever noticed how much argument a discussion of grammar inspires? It seems the “grammar police” are most vigilant about the 1-2 archaic rules they hold dear, while they blithely break or ignore the dozens of rules they don’t know.

Actually, I do tolerate poor grammar; I just don’t do it willingly. I have never fired an employee for poor grammar or hired for grammar and writing alone (although like Kyle, I now screen language ability heavily in anybody who walks through our door.) I’ve never corrected anybody in public or in front of a client. But I cringe inside on a daily basis when I edit the same mistakes in the same kinds of writing again and again.

While I beat the drum in staff meetings, I had pretty much come to accept that terrible grammar and writing is an aspect of the millennial workforce I would simply have to accept and endure. Until last week.

The flood of responses to the question of older/younger entrepreneurs included a note from the PR lead for Alex Shevchenko and Max Lytvyn, who co-founded their current company in 2009 when they were both 28. What caught my eye is that their company is Grammarly, the software program that analyzes copy for adherence to some 150-plus grammar rules. In addition to grammar and spelling, Grammarly checks for stylistic issues as well, such as passive voice. (YES. I can hear the spontaneous chorus of hallelujah from editors all over the world.) Grammarly recently received the Editors’ Choice award for 2012 from TopTenReviews.

Not only was the founders’ millennial age a surprise, but from their bios I can see they are both English language learners who completed college degrees outside the U.S. - while both hold MBA's (Alex from the Univ. of Toronto and Max from Vanderbilt University), Alex completed his bachelor's degree in Vienna, Austria, and Max completed a bachelor's degree in the Ukraine.

There go the excuses. There is hope.

Grammarly’s blog notes that more than two thirds of salaried jobs require a significant amount of writing, yet top organizations are spending $3B (Yes, that’s $3 billion) per year on remedial training for employees to bring their writing ability up to even a baseline standard.

I really appreciate that instead of becoming the “grammar police,” Grammarly’s blog and page show they are approaching the epidemic with a dose of humor instead. For example, a list of grammar rules on their blog says

Do not use hyperbole; not one in a million can do it effectively.

Never use a big word when a diminutive alternative would suffice.

That’s the spirit. Rather than making grammar the weapon we beat our employees over the head with, why not make the topic an opportunity to learn in an environment of humor and fun?

For example, Grammarly joined New York Times, AARP and several other organizations last week in sponsoring a one-sentence writing contest in celebration of National Writing Day. I look forward to reading and possibly reporting the coming results.